Star Kissed: A Crane Series Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

I grew up more like an only child.” She shrugged. “I took clothing design at school and now I have a good job and some great mates. When I’m not working, I love to surf and party. That’s my life.”
    “Is there a man in your life?” he asked.
    This was more like it. Moody purple shadows darkened his eyes, and once more she felt that elemental and unexpected connection between them.
    “No.”
    “I’m surprised.”
    She laughed lightly. “I’ve always believed there’s a perfect person out there. I haven’t met him yet.”
    “You’re a romantic.”
    “Well, what’s the alternative?”
    “Intimacy with strangers.”
    She reached out and touched his hand, which had been idly toying with the stem of his wineglass, then she raised her eyes and captured his gaze just as deliberately, letting the waves of attraction build, feeling her heart speed up.
    “Well, until Mr. Right comes along, I can go along with that.”
    “Bronwyn . . .”
    He was going to turn her down when she knew how much he needed her. He was gorgeous and sweet and hurting, and she wanted to kiss everything better.
    “My friends call me Bron,” she said softly and rising, walked around the table. Then she leaned over and kissed him.
    He muttered a protest that she muffled with her mouth. For a moment she felt his struggle, wanting her and wishing he didn’t, and then his arms went round her and he pulled her to his lap. Now things were going better. She smiled into the kiss, liking the way they fit together. He tightened his hold and kissed her back with meaning. His protest had been so weak and easily overborne that she knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Her pulse picked up as excitement skittered everywhere like a bag of dropped lollies. He felt good—lean, but muscular—and she couldn’t help but remember how he’d looked when he’d arrived home after his run, his lightly bronzed skin gleaming with sweat and pulsing with the warmth of a workout.
    “Bronwyn,” he mumbled against her lips, “we should talk about this.”
    “Absolutely,” she purred, and nibbled his bottom lip until his tongue was hers once more.
    It had been a very long time since a man had made her so hot so fast, and they were both still fully dressed. He had a way of kissing her that was more about giving than taking, and it gave her a lot of confidence that once they hit the bedroom, her pleasure, rather than his, would be top on his mind. Very nice. He felt so good, so warm and strong and dependable somehow. And he smelled good, too—a little foreign, no cologne or aftershave or scented product that she could identify, just clean, excited male. Her favorite kind.
    He pulled away, dragged in a breath, and said, “Bron, we had an arrangement, I expect you to—”
    He groaned helplessly as she shifted her bottom against the ridge of an impressive erection. He grunted something incomprehensible and gave up on his attempts at conversation. About time.
    “I want to see you,” he muttered thickly, reaching for the hem of her shirt. “Been thinking about it for hours.”
    “Oh, yes,” she sighed, tipping her head back.
    She pictured him peeling off her tank top, her breasts free to the night air, making love out here where . . . Wait a minute! This is where things always started to go wrong for her. Next thing she knew, offended old people would be watching, police would be banging at the door, or a riot would start outside. She shuddered. No. She had to be sensible for a change. If she caused trouble at the company house, Cam would kill her. So she slipped her hands down to cover Mark’s.
    “Upstairs,” she said gently, and slipped from his lap, never letting go of his hands so he followed her, his front to her back.
    They managed a respectable bit of rumba as they mounted the stairs still pressed together. They were both breathing heavily when they reached the top of the stairs, and she didn’t think it was from the elevation. They reached